Steam gun



Sept. 5, 1961 G. A. SCHAEFFER STEAM GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5,1961 INVENTOR GEO/F65 AUGUST 15' C HAP/ it? BY M ATTORNEY Sept. 5, 1961G. A. SCHAEFFER STEAM GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1961 Q" INVENTOR659/1 6"! AUGUJT SC'HAFffR ATTORNEY 2,998,924 STEAM GUN George A.Schaetfer, New York, N.Y., assignor to Stearnaster C0,, Inc., New York,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. No. 108,134 14Claims. (Cl. 239-436) The present invention relates to improvements insteam-applying devices, and relates more particularly to portabledevices for treating fabrics and furs with jets of steam to renovatesuch goods and generally improve the appearance thereof.

More specifically, the instant invention is directed to a steam gun ofimproved construction for applying superheated dry steam to the surfaceof dress materials and the "he thus improving the texture and generalappearance or" the same, for example, by raising the nap of velvet andsimilar materials, by removing wrinkles from various materials such ascorduroy, nylon, jersey, wool and satins, by restoring the crinkle inchiffon material and by glazing furs.

Heretofore, the method of pressing fabrics consisting primarily ofdampening the surface of the fabric with water in any suitable manner,and then passing a pressing iron thereover. Continual application ofsuch a method ultimately resulted in flattening the nap, which normallyproduced an undesirable glossy appearance.

Furthermore, various constructions of other steam guns have beendesigned in some of which the steam is generated within the body of thesteam gun while in others it is conveyed from an external source througha flexible conduit into a chamber within the steam gun. A seriousobjection to many of these constructions, especially where they aredesigned for use in the treatment of delicate textiles, is thatcondensation from the steam will sometimes pass through the ports in thehead of the steam gun and will produce a spot on the textile. Attemptshave been made to avoid such result but the steam guns heretoforeconstructed do not completely accomplish this purpose. Thus thedischarge of even a few drops of water from the steam gun may ruin thearticle which is being treated.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved steamgun which, when employed to renovate furs and fabrics, will be free fromthe foregoing and other disadavntages.

In its broadest aspect, this invention contemplates applying superheateddry steam to the surface of textiles by providing a construction of asteam gun which completely guards against any condensation findingaccess to the steam spraying head.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steam gun adapted toseparate moisture from the steam so that only dry steam will reach thework.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable steam gunhaving a supporting handle attached thereto adapted to be easily appliedto any fabric or fur, either vertically suspended or disposed flat upona support.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a steam gun inwhich the quantity and pressure of the steam may be regulated by theoperator during the steam spraying operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a steam gun whichis simple in construction, exceptionally easy to operate and inexpensivein cost.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, together with certaindetails of construction and combinations of parts, will appear from thefollowing detailed description and will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

28 at the opposite side thereof and Patented Sept. 5, 1961 ICQ In thedrawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of this invention is shown,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the steam gun of the instantinvention,

FIGURE 2 is a partial bottom view of the device shown in FIGURE 1,

FlGURE 3 is a sectional View of the device shown in FIGURE 1,

FiGURE 4 is a sectional view taken upon the line 4-4 of FlGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken upon the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4, and

FlGURE 6 is another partial bottom view of the device shown in FIGURE 1with certain parts removed.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

Referring now to the drawing for a detailed description of thisinvention, reference numeral it designates the body of the improvedsteam gun. The body it) which is passed over the material to berefreshened is triangular in shape and is preferably formed of somelight metal such as aluminum. The use of aluminum is especiallypreferred because of its relatively high thermal conductivity.

A pair of chambers indicated by reference numerals 11 and 12 are formedintegrally with the body it interiorly thereof. As clearly shown inFIGURES 4 and 5, the chambers 11, 12 occupy substantially the entireinterior of body member 1t? and are spaced from each other by means of apartition 13. Each of the chambers has a specific function which will bedescribed hereinafter.

The body 10 is formed with a rounded front end portion llla which isprovided with a series of ports 14 for discharging steam fromdistributing chamber 11 onto the material being refreshened.

An electrical heating element generally indicated by reference numeral15 is positioned below chamber 12. A cover plate 16 preferably formed ofaluminum is positioned below the heating element and is secured to thebody to by fastening elements 17'. Inasmuch as at least one fasteningelement passes through the heating element, the cover plate thus securesthe heating element in position at the base of the body member.

As clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a hollow housing 18 is afiixed tobody 10 in substantial dove-tail relation by means of securing elements19. The housing 18 contains a thermostat generally indicated byreference numeral 24 which controls the temperature of heating element15. The thermostat is regulated by a knob 21 and is connected in serieswith the heating element 15 and to an electrical outlet (not shown) by acord 22.

A steam inlet 23 leading into chamber 12 is located in the rear Wall ofbody l0 and is connected by means of a series of pipes or ducts 24, 25,26 and 27 to a source of steam (not shown). A portable electric steamgenerator, however, may be preferred so that the device may be employedin any desired location. As clearly shown in FIGURE 4, the pipe 24 isthreaded into the rear wall of body it and is positioned adjacent inlet23. The opposite end of the pipe 24 is threaded into a housing 28containing a conventional control valve indicated generally by referencenumeral 29. The valve body is formed with a port 31'} establishingcommunication with pipe 2 The pipe or duct 25 is threaded into thehousing communicates with the valve 29 by means of port 31.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 4, the pipe 26 extends through an axialpassage of a handle 32 and is connected to the duct 25 by means of aconventional coupling 33. T he handle is formed with a groove adapted toreceive the fingers of the operators hand gripping said handle.

The handle 32 is recessed at its end remote from the 3 valve 29 toprovide a housing 34 for another conventional coupling 35 securing pipe27 to the opposite end of pipe 26. The pipe 27 in turn is connected atits opposite end to a steam source (not shown).

Inasmuch as the operation of the steam gun does not contemplate aconstant -fiow of steam through ports 14 onto the material to berefreshened, the valve 29 controls the flow of steam passing throughconduits 2d, 25, 26, 27 to the chambers 11 and 12. To facilitate theoperation of said valve member, a pivoted control lever 36 is providedwhich is spaced from the handle in parallel relation thereto. A bracket37 secured to housing 23 limits the swinging of lever 36 about pivot 33.The lever is in such proximity to the handle 3?. as to permit relativelysimple control of the valve by the operators hand holding said handle.

As previously set forth, it is one of the objects of this invention toprevent escape of any unvaporized water or condensation of water vaporto the face of the steam gun. To this end, the heating element 15 isemployed to superheat the steam upon its entrance through inlet 23 intothe superheating chamber 12. The steam upon entering the gun throughconduit 27 contains a certain degree of moisture, which, if allowed tocondense, may'ruin the garments which are to be sprayed. By superheatingthe steam by means of heating element 15 while said steam is in chamber12, only dry steam passes through the aperture in partition 13 to thedistributing chamber 11 which subsequently discharges the dry steam ontothe surface of the garments through ports 14.

The operation of the steam gun of the instant invention is as follows:The conduit 27 is connected to a convenient steam source, and the cord22 by means of a plug to a source of electrical current. The valve 29 isnormally closed; and, therefore, when the steam gun is not in use, nosteam will find access to the chambers within body 1%. in operation,after the current has been turned on, the operator presses a fingeragainst the lever 36 thereby depressing the same towards handle 32 toopen the valve and permit a small quantity of steam to pass from pipethrough conduit 24, and inlet 23 into the superheatlng chamber 12. Thesteam so a mitted will be superheated by means of heating element 15,thereby removing any moisture contained therein. Consequently only drysteam passes through the aperture in partition 13 into the distributingchamber From this point the dry steam is discharged through ports idonto the articles being treated. The pressure under which the steam isdischarged may be controlled by the operator who can raise this pressureby depressing lever 36 to admit more steam into conduit 24 and thence tosupcrheating chamber 12 and distributing chamber ll or may reduce thepressure by permitting the valve to seat. Furthermore, the temperatureof the heating element may be regulated by thermostat 2t and knob 21.

Although the steam gun of the instant invention may be uscd while inseveral positions, it is preferred to hang the textiles to be treated ina substantially ve.rical position, and then pass the body portion of thedevice over the surface thereof. The dry superheated steam emitted fromports -14 will materially aid in renewing the textiles so treated.

It should be noted that the device may not only be used for thetreatment of dress materials to reireshen the same, but will be foundadvantageous in the treatment of furniture, millinery, drapes and othermaterials.

it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is givenmerely by way of illustration and that many variations may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is hereby claimed to be new and desired to be secured by LettersPatent is:

l. A steam gun for use in refreshening materials, said steam guncomprising a body portion, said body portion being divided interiorlyinto two chambers, an apertured partition separating said chambers,means for admitting steam into one of said chambers from an externalsteam source, means within the body portion for superheating the steamwhen in said aforementioned chamber, thus removing the moisture fromsaid steam, means associated with the other chamber by discharging thesuperheated dry steam onto the material to be refreshened, and asupporting handle associated with said body portion.

2. A steam gun in accordance with claim 1 wherein'the body portion isgenerally triangular in shape and is formed with a rounded front endportion.

3. A steam gun in accordance with claim 2 wherein the rounded front endportion is provided with a plurality of steam discharging portscommunicating with the latter chamber.

4. A steam gun in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means forsuperheating the steam comprises a heating element positioned below saidfirst named chamber and secured to said body portion by means of a coverplate.

5. A steam gun in accordance with claim 4 wherein the temperature of theheating element is controlled by a thermostat.

6. A steam gun in accordance with claim 5 wherein the thermostat ispositioned within a hollow housing atfixed to the body portion insubstantial dove-tail relation.

7. A steam gun in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided forcontrolling the amount of steam admitted into the first named chamber.

8. A steam gun in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means comprises acontrol valve positioned between a series of ducts conveying the steamfrom an external steam source to the body portion.

9. A steam gun in accordance with claim 8 wherein the control valve isoperated by a pivoted lever spaced from the supporting handle inparallel relation thereto.

10. A steam applying device for use in refreshening materials, saidsteam applying device comprising a substantially trian ular body portionprovided with a rounded front end, said body portion being dividedinteriorly into two compartments, an apertured partition separating saidcompartments, means for admitting steam into one or" said compartments,means for controlling the amount of steam entering said aforementionedcompartment, means within the body portion for superheating the steamwhen in said compartment, means associated with the other compartmentfor discharging the superheated dry steam onto the material to beheated, and a supporting handle affixed to said steam applying device.

11. A steam applying device in accordance with claim 10 wherein themeans for controlling the amount of steam entering said first namedcompartment comprises a control valve positioned between a series ofducts conveying the steam from an external source through the supportinghandle to the body portion.

12. A steam applying device in accordance with claim 11 wherein thevalve is'controlled by a pivoted lever, said lever also functioning toregulate the pressure of the steam passing through said valve.

13. A steam applying device in accordance with claim 10 wherein themeans for discharging the dry steam onto the material comprises aplurality of ports positioned in the rounded front end of the triangularbody member.

14. A steam applying device in accordance with claim lii' wherein thetriangular body portion is formed from aluminum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,799,502 Colburn Apr. 7, 1931 1,950,796 Hilgerink Mar. 13, 19342,832,086 Neils Apr. 29, 1958 2,849,736 Kohle Sept. 2, 1958

